Evaluation of Demonstrations to End Childhood Hunger - VA

The 2010 Child Nutrition Reauthorization provided funding to test innovative strategies to end childhood hunger and food insecurity. Demonstration projects were funded in Chickasaw Nation, Kentucky, Navajo Nation, Nevada, and Virginia. This study focuses on Virginia. A selection of schools were randomly assigned to either a treatment or control group. Children in treatment schools received: (1) three meals during the school day and food packages for weekends and school breaks; (2) $60 monthly Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) benefits during summer months if they were eligible for FRP meals; and (3) nutrition education for their parents. The control group operated under "business as usual."

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Food Insecurity Among Children

Age range

5 year–18 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

Objective: To reduce hunger 365 days a year in households with schoolchildren by transforming schools into food hubs and providing nutrition education to parents.

Target Population: Elementary (n=30), middle (n=6), and high schools (n=2) in rural and urban VA. All schools had low academic performance and at least 50 percent of children eligible for free and reduced-price (FRP) meals.

Intervention: Schools were randomly assigned to either a treatment or control group. Children in treatment schools received: (1) three meals during the school day and food packages for weekends and school breaks; (2) $60 monthly Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) benefits during summer months if they were eligible for FRP meals; and (3) nutrition education for their parents. The control group operated under "business as usual." Note that the $60 monthly benefit was not included in the evaluation of the demonstration.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

A selection of elementary, middle, and high schools in rural and urban Virginia, USA.
Schools must have had low academic performance and at least 50% or children eligible for free and reduced price through the National School Lunch Program or participating in the Community Eligibility Provision.

Treatment and study plan

VA 365 Demonstration Benefits

Behavioral

Reducing hunger 365 days a year in households with school children by transforming schools into food hubs ( free breakfast, lunch, supper, and food backpacks for the weekend) and providing nutrition education to parents.

Primary outcomes

Food Insecurity among Children

Time frame: Previous 30 days: once before intervention start and once during intervention implementation

Measured by the United States Department of Agriculture's Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM).

Affirming 2 or more out of the 8 child-level items in the HFSSM. Higher scores generally indicates worsening food insecurity.

Secondary outcomes

Very Low Food Insecurity among Children

Time frame: Previous 30 days: once before intervention start and once during intervention implementation

Measured by the United States Department of Agriculture's Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM).

Affirming 5 or more out of the 8 child-level items in the HFSSM. Higher scores generally indicates worsening food insecurity.
Food Insecurity among Adults

Time frame: Previous 30 days: once before intervention start and once during intervention implementation

Measured by the United States Department of Agriculture's Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM).

Affirming 3 or more out of the 10 adult-level items in the HFSSM. Higher scores generally indicates worsening food insecurity.
Household Food Insecurity

Time frame: Previous 30 days: once before intervention start and once during intervention implementation

Measured by the United States Department of Agriculture's Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM).

Affirming 3 or more out of the 18 items in the HFSSM. Higher scores generally indicates worsening food insecurity.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

USDA Food and Nutrition Service

Fed

Collaborators

Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

Registry information

Acronym: EDECHVA

Important dates

Study start: 2016
Primary completion: 2017
Study completion: 2017
First posted: Jan 6, 2020
Registry last updated: Jan 6, 2020

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed